in five events
at Nike Classic
Howell’s Barnett thrives
on being multi-event athlete
Rebel to compete
in five events
at Nike Classic
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Howell’s Devin Barnett competes in the 55-meter hurdles at the NJSIAA Group IV championships at Princeton Feb. 5.
If it’s Tuesday, it must be hurdling and high-jumping time for Devin Barnett. It’s the same for Thursday.
If it’s Friday, it’s time to shot put and do some running. Mondays, she joins the Howell High School distance runners for a long run.
Barnett is looking ahead to next month’s Nike Indoor Classic in Landover, Md. (March 13-14), where the versatile Rebel will compete in the pentathlon. The events making up the indoor pentathlon are the 55-meter hurdles, shot put, long jump, high jump and 800-meter run.
"I like doing multi-events," said Barnett, whose first attempt at the pentathlon was last year, in which she finished 10th. "I hope to do it in college."
From last year’s foray into the pentathlon for the first time, Barnett has learned that each event is very distinct from the other. You can’t get by on just being a superb all-around athlete.
"I have to train for all the events," she pointed out. "Each event is separate and requires separate training. You use so many different muscle groups."
That why she does workouts designed for specific events on specific days during the week. As with any sprinter, the toughest day is the distance workout. She doesn’t look forward to the distance runs any more than she looks forward to running it at the end of the pentathlon. But it is a very important part of the event, requiring endurance that can only be gained through long-distance runs.
Coach John Hein believes Barnett will improve on her performance of last year as a result of the detail she is paying to each event.
"She’s on the right track," said Hein. "She’s training better.
"Her running events are getting stronger, especially the hurdles," he added. "She’s looking to do better than 5-2 in the high jump and she’s throwing the shot put in the low 30s. She’s done some quality long jumps."
Because of her multiple talents in track and field, Barnett is accustomed to competing in three or four events during a dual meet for the Rebels. However, that was not preparation enough for what she experienced at last year’s pentathlon.
"It takes a toll on you," she said. "Running the 800 last is brutal."
That’ why she joins her Rebel distance running teammates each Monday and lets them pull her through grueling distance runs so that those 800 meters seem less torturous.
Hein said he is confident that Barnett can run a quality time for the 800. She has run some 400 meters during the relay season and has been timed in the mid-60s.
The hurdles are Barnett’s favorite event, and possibly her best. She has won the indoor Monmouth County Championship the last two years. She credits her gymnastics background for her success.
"I love the hurdles," she said. "It’s like vaulting in gymnastics. You have to attack the hurdles like you do the vault."
At the Group IV state championships on Feb. 1, Barnett competed in the shot put, high jump and hurdles to get marks in those events. To competed at the Nike Classic, she must have record marks in all five events during the season. She will compete in the long jump at the Feb. 24 Eastern States at the Armory, New York City. She will find the time to run the 800 meters at either Monmouth County, Freehold District or Shore Conference meets.
The pentathlon is totally different than dual meet or championships competitions and requires a great deal of strategy on the part of the athlete.
For instances, unlike a regular high-jumping competition, where a jumper has three tries to make a height and can jump as often they want until they have three misses at one height. In the pentathlon, jumpers have just six jumps total. That requires a lot of pre-meet thinking. If a jumper starts too high, they run the risk of a no height or, if they start too low they run out of jumps. Barnett said she is very comfortable starting at 5-foot-0. She has a personal best of 5-2 and is looking on improving on that prior to the Nike Classic.
The shot put and long jump are different as well. In championship meets, throws and jumpers have three attempts to make the final where they then get three more attempts there. In the pentathlon, there are just three throws and three jumps. It’s imperative that the competitor be able to make their best throw or jump early.
Add the strategy to the physical endurance required, and it’s no wonder the multi-event athletes are considered among the best in track and field.